Unfortunate as it is, brave men and women who have given the best years of their lives for their country, often spend their later years in the worst of circumstances. The unsavoury conditions may arise out of health issues or mental disorders, PTSD, financial insecurity, depression, age and a multitude of other issues. In order to make their lives better and help them find solutions to their struggles, it is necessary that more social workers come forward. Read on to understand how someone with a social work or BSN to DNP online degree can help the veterans who need it the most.

Assessment

The first step is to assess the situation a particular veteran is in by talking to the person and his/her family members. After inquiring about the issues that the veteran is facing and the extent of them, the social worker or nurse usually writes up an assessment which helps the VA department to prepare a course of action. This also includes high-risk screening where the professional keeps a close eye on individuals who have critical health conditions or simply do not even have a home to live in. The goal is to prioritize the needs of the high-risk individuals and make sure that they receive the benefits they need, faster.

Guidance

Helping veterans make their case at the Department of Veteran Affairs for Veterans Affairs Benefits is one of the most important duties of a professional working with veterans. Apart from those who are disabled physically or mentally, some simply find the entire length of the process to be too confusing or even tiring. Nurses and Social workers help these veterans get the benefits to which they are entitled to by guiding them through the process and finding the right programs for them. Additionally, they can also speak directly on behalf of someone who is not proficient enough for the complicated processes involved in the system.

Counselling

Social work and PTSD with veterans frequently require counseling from psychotherapists. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe condition found quite commonly among those that have been in active war zones. Counselling through group therapy and family therapy, coupled with individual one-on-one time, can help them tremendously to counteract PTSD, depression and other psychological disorders. Amidst a crisis, the counseling service of a qualified nurse or social worker is not only invaluable in helping the veteran get through it but is also instrumental in guiding him/her immediately after it’s over.

Even though these are the most common ways in which nurses and social workers can help an ex-member of the armed forces lead a better and more fulfilling life, they are not the only ones. Apart from the duties which are assigned by the Veteran Affairs department on being hired for the job, many workers form personal relationships with the veteran entrusted under their care. Their willingness to actually help is more important than the duties themselves, as it often motivates the professionals to find more ways in which they can help.